This is my first ever Top Ten Tuesday, the meme is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. The theme this week is fortuitously favourite Top Ten Tuesday, so I have the opportunity to do them all at once. I’ll give my top pick for each topic.

1. Top Ten Book I’ve read so far in 2015
A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E.Schwab

Four different Londons. One debonair cross-dressing heroine. Thieves, pirates, magicians. Royals. A plot that never loses its steam. Engaging dialogue. Really, I could go on and on. So far this is my absolute favourite read of this year.

This is probably my favourite series of all time, and it’s criminally underrated. A creative retelling of 1001 nights, the stories in this book are masterfully interwoven. All the characters are plotlines forms an intricate and carefully crafted web that spans over two books, four main stories, and numerous characters. The prose are lyrical, beautiful, provoking. The female characters really shine in this book. It is strength and feminism done right. I can’t recommend it enough, please read it!

3. The Ten Books You Loved but Never Wrote a Review ForThe Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

One of my favourite classes in high school was Classical Studies. I loved reading The Iliad, The Odyssey, and have always loved Greek Mythology. Achilles was never a character I found sympathetic, he always felt too arrogant and otherwordly. However, Miller’s reinterpretation of Achilles and his paramour, Patroclus, made me view him in another light. She humanised him in a way his mortal heels never could. I loved that she was able to change my opinion on 2000+ years old character and story.

I never made it past the first half of City of Bones, despite trying twice. I have read The Infernal Devices series and found it a bit more engaging. However, there is a new TV series coming out, so it gives me incentive to attempt once more. Otherwise, I guess I can always just watch the show.

5. Characters You Wish Would Get Their Own BookHelene Aquilla from The Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

I just recently finished this book so she’s fresh on my mind. Helene is the one character I truly developed an emotional connection for despite her limited screen time. Everyone in the book might be constantly underestimating Helene, but here I am and all I want to do is love her. Is it too much to ask for her to have some POV chapters in the sequel? *bats lashes*

Romance is not an essential in books for me personally, but having a well developed relationship is the quickest way into my black heart. Todd and Viola has the kind of relationship I love reading most: the slow burn. No instalove here. Just two people who had to go through hell together, helping one another, always finding each other, and growing up together.

7. Series I’d Like to Start, but Haven’t YetThe Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson

I’ve loved every single Sanderson book I’ve read. He’s a master of worldbuilding, with intriciate magic systems and settings that would make for a wicked videogaming or movie experience. The Stormlight Archives is slated to be 10 books long, I get so excited thinking of how well developed this world will become. I’m also too scared to start these books because… have you seen the size of them? Thinking about having to reread these door stoppers every time he puts out a new book makes me weep. I think I will start on the series when five books are out… just so I have less of a wait for the ending.

8. Bookish Pet Peeves

Instalove is the fastest way to lose my investment in any relationship in a book. I think it’s lazy, unfortunately, it’s also very prevalent, especially in YA books. I blame Twilight lol.

9. Favourite Book Setting

Hogwarts, of course! I secretly hoped to get a letter from Dumbledore on my 11th birthday. Sadly, Muggle I remain. At least there are theme parks that mimicks the experience nowadays haha. Completely worth the time and money, $10 butterbeers and all!

10. Book on my Winter TBRThe Martian by Andy Weir

I’ve heard lots of great things about this book, and I am also in the mood for sci-fi. The Martian is the next book on my TBR after I finish The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. I look forward to its promises of well-researched science, likable protagonist, and the life-or-death premise.

I love In the Night Garden by Catherynne Valente. I completely agree – It flies under the radar for a few fairytale retelling readers. The sequel is on my TBR. The Song of Achilles was also really lovely. I don’t read enough mythological inspired works.

The sequel is just as good as the first book! Everything ties up very well in the end, I hope you’ll enjoy it once you have a chance to check it out.

There’s a lot of Greek mythology books around now, probably thanks to Rick Riordan. I heard Cruel Beauty and Antigoddess were good examples of YA ones, but I haven’t had the chance to read them for myself.